Chapter 336

Chapter 336
Olivia

We ate in companionable silence, both of us checking our phones between bites. My inbox had exploded overnight with emails from Dylan, updates from the Thompson team, and research on Cornerstone properties.
"Busy day?" Alexander asked, finally setting down his phone.
"Aren't they all?" I scrolled through Dylan's message, impressed by how much research he'd compiled. "Dylan sent me an analysis of five Cornerstone properties. At three AM."
"That kid needs to sleep."
"That kid is making my life significantly easier." I flagged several emails for later review. "What about you? Anything exciting?"
"Conference call at eight. Merger negotiations at ten. The usual corporate nonsense."
"Sounds thrilling."
"It really is." His tone was completely flat. "I live for merger negotiations."
I laughed despite my exhaustion. "Poor baby. Having to run a billion-dollar company."
"The struggle is real."
We finished breakfast quickly, both of us racing against the clock.
"What time's your flight?" I asked, following him toward the door.
"Six. Private terminal, so I should get there by five thirty."
I glanced at my watch. That gave us maybe nine hours before he'd be gone for weeks.
The drive to work felt shorter than usual. We took separate cars like always, Alexander's Aston Martin pulling ahead at the first light. I watched his taillights disappear into traffic, already feeling the absence.
At the office, Dylan greeted me with his usual efficiency and two cups of coffee.
"Morning, Mrs. Carter. I pulled together the Cornerstone property comparisons you requested."
"Already? It's barely eight."
"Figured we could use the head start." He handed me a tablet loaded with side-by-side property analyses. "The visual inconsistency is even worse than we thought."
I scrolled through his work, wincing at the chaotic brand presentation. Each property looked like it belonged to a completely different company.
"This is going to be a nightmare," I muttered.
"Or an opportunity to really make an impact."
"Always the optimist." I grabbed my coffee, taking a long sip. "Thanks for this. Let's dive into Aspen first. If we crack their identity, the rest should follow."
The morning disappeared into spreadsheets and market analysis. By noon, my eyes were crossing from staring at demographic data.
I pushed back from my desk, stretching my arms overhead until my shoulders popped. The Cornerstone files sprawled across my workspace like a paper mountain, each property demanding attention I wasn't sure I had the bandwidth to give.
Around three thirty, I paused my work; the files could wait. I needed to go home, see Alexander before he left, and somehow figure out how to manage the next few weeks without him.
The drive home was mercifully quick. I pulled through the estate gates at four fifteen, parking next to Alexander's Aston Martin.
Inside, the house was quiet. I found him upstairs in the bedroom, packing a suitcase with the same meticulous precision he applied to everything.
"You're home early," he said, not looking up from folding a dress shirt.
"So are you."
He glanced at his watch. "Need to leave in forty-five minutes."
I leaned against the doorframe, watching him pack. Shirts, ties, his laptop case, toiletries arranged in perfect order. Everything had its place in Alexander's world.
"How long will you be gone?" I asked, already knowing.
"Two weeks minimum. Maybe three if negotiations run long." He zipped up a compartment and moved to his closet to get his shoes. "Singapore's the wildcard. Could wrap in three days or stretch to ten."
"That's a long time."
"I know." He paused, meeting my eyes. "You sure you don't want to come? I can adjust meetings, make it work around your schedule."
The offer tempted me more than it should have. Exotic cities, luxury hotels, and time with Alexander away from all the noise and pressure. But Cornerstone loomed large, demanding attention I couldn't defer.
"I can't," I said, hating how small my voice sounded. "This project is critical."
"I understand." His face fell slightly before he masked it with a neutral expression. "Work comes first."
Silence stretched between us, heavy with things we weren't saying.
"I should get dressed," he said, disappearing into the walk-in closet.
I sat on the edge of the bed, listening to the rustle of clothes and the slide of hangers. When he emerged, he'd changed into dark jeans and a crisp white button-down, sleeves rolled to his elbows. Travel casual for a man who never looked anything less than polished.
He caught me watching and raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Nothing. Just memorizing the view."
"Sentimental today?"
"Maybe. Sue me."
He crossed to where I sat, tilting my chin up with one finger. "I'm going to miss you."
"Good. You should."
His laugh was soft, affectionate. "So confident."
"Someone has to be."
He kissed me then, slow and deep, tasting like coffee and something uniquely him. When we broke apart, I was breathless.
"You sure you don't want to come now?" he asked against my lips. "Last chance. I can delay the flight an hour, get you packed."
God, I wanted to. The temptation was almost overwhelming. Throw some clothes in a bag, forget about Cornerstone and deadlines and proving myself, just go with him and pretend the real world didn't exist for a few weeks.
But that wasn't who I was. I didn't run from challenges, no matter how appealing the escape route looked.
"I can't come now," I said firmly. "But if I can get ahead on Cornerstone, if there's a window where I can steal a few days, I'll fly out and meet you. But I can't guarantee it'll happen, logistics might be impossible, but if there's any way to make it work, I will."
"I'd love that." He kissed my forehead. "Absolutely love it."
"Then consider it motivation for both of us. You wrap your negotiations efficiently, I crush this project, and maybe we can steal a long weekend in Singapore or London."
"Deal."
His lips curved into a satisfied smile before pulling me in for another kiss, this one slower, deeper. When we finally broke apart, reality intruded with all the subtlety of a freight train.
"We really need to go," I said reluctantly, glancing at my watch. "Your flight."
"Right." He released me, straightening his shirt. "Let's do this."